TheStreet Ratings Group would like to highlight 3 stocks that pushed the sector lower today:

Houston American Energy ( HUSA) is one of the companies that pushed the Basic Materials sector lower today. Houston American Energy was down $0.01 (3.6%) to $0.21 on average volume. Throughout the day, 41,753 shares of Houston American Energy exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 46,600 shares. The stock ranged in price between $0.20-$0.24 after having opened the day at $0.24 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $0.22.

Houston American Energy Corp., an independent energy company, acquires, explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, crude oil, and condensate from properties located principally in the Gulf Coast area of the United States and South America. Houston American Energy has a market cap of $11.2 million and is part of the energy industry. Shares are up 35.7% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Friday.

TheStreet Ratings rates Houston American Energy as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity, feeble growth in its earnings per share and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself.

Highlights from TheStreet Ratings analysis on HUSA go as follows:

The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 121.9% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from -$0.54 million to -$1.19 million.

Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry and the overall market, HOUSTON AMERN ENERGY CORP's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

HOUSTON AMERN ENERGY CORP has experienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. Stable Earnings per share over the past year indicate the company has sound management over its earnings and share float. During the past fiscal year, HOUSTON AMERN ENERGY CORP reported poor results of -$0.07 versus -$0.06 in the prior year.

Despite any intermediate fluctuations, we have only bad news to report on this stock's performance over the last year: it has tumbled by 31.25%, worse than the S&P 500's performance. Consistent with the plunge in the stock price, the company's earnings per share are down 100.00% compared to the year-earlier quarter. Naturally, the overall market trend is bound to be a significant factor. However, in one sense, the stock's sharp decline last year is a positive for future investors, making it cheaper (in proportion to its earnings over the past year) than most other stocks in its industry. But due to other concerns, we feel the stock is still not a good buy right now.

Despite the weak revenue results, HUSA has significantly outperformed against the industry average of 37.8%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 3.8%. The declining revenue appears to have seeped down to the company's bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.

At the close, India Globalization Capital ( IGC) was down $0.04 (14.7%) to $0.24 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 73,100 shares of India Globalization Capital exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 29,600 shares. The stock ranged in price between $0.15-$0.29 after having opened the day at $0.29 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $0.28.

India Globalization Capital, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in trading electronics; and the rental of heavy equipment in Hong Kong and India. India Globalization Capital has a market cap of $4.4 million and is part of the energy industry. Shares are down 58.9% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Friday.

TheStreet Ratings rates India Globalization Capital as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself.

Highlights from TheStreet Ratings analysis on IGC go as follows:

The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and greatly underperformed compared to the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry average. The net income has significantly decreased by 31.0% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from -$1.46 million to -$1.92 million.

Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry and the overall market, INDIA GLOBALIZATION CAPITAL's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

The gross profit margin for INDIA GLOBALIZATION CAPITAL is currently extremely low, coming in at 5.41%. It has decreased significantly from the same period last year. Along with this, the net profit margin of -85.01% is significantly below that of the industry average.

IGC's stock share price has done very poorly compared to where it was a year ago: Despite any rallies, the net result is that it is down by 71.85%, which is also worse that the performance of the S&P 500 Index. Investors have so far failed to pay much attention to the earnings improvements the company has managed to achieve over the last quarter. Naturally, the overall market trend is bound to be a significant factor. However, in one sense, the stock's sharp decline last year is a positive for future investors, making it cheaper (in proportion to its earnings over the past year) than most other stocks in its industry. But due to other concerns, we feel the stock is still not a good buy right now.

IGC's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.22 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Although the company had a strong debt-to-equity ratio, its quick ratio of 0.74 is somewhat weak and could be cause for future problems.

Timberline Resources ( TLR) was another company that pushed the Basic Materials sector lower today. Timberline Resources was down $0.05 (10.2%) to $0.43 on light volume. Throughout the day, 5,956 shares of Timberline Resources exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 13,500 shares. The stock ranged in price between $0.43-$0.47 after having opened the day at $0.45 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $0.48.

Timberline Resources has a market cap of $5.5 million and is part of the energy industry. Shares are down 18.5% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Friday.